Besides O'Brien's victory, the biggest development of the night for Democrats was the defeat of conservative Republican Louis G. Salvio. As the minority leader on the city council, Salvio clashed often with Republicans in a sharp manner.

The Courant's Don Stacom noted the Salvio had leveled blistering criticisms of O'Brien on a Republican blog, saying that O'Brien is a carpetbagger, a snake, a charlatan, "a faker who has never held a real job,'' and an "inveterate prevaricator.''

In turn, longtime New Britain Democrat Phil Sherwood was blissful when Salvio lost, saying, "The I.Q. of the council just rose 20 points.''